Verbena plant named ‘Poena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant, substantially an herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its deep rose flowers, which appear earlier on the plant, and a growing habit that is upright.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Poena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

The new Verbena×hybrida is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The new Verbena plant is particularly distinguished by its deep rose flower color, early flowering, and a spreading habit that is at first semi-erect and later spreading.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the open pollination of ‘F0132-1’ and an unknown parent. ‘F0132-1’ is a scarlet flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘F0132-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. The male parent is unknown. ‘F0132-1’ has not been patented.

As a result of this open pollination the present cultivar was created in 2003 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatic zones in the US, except in zones 8, 9 and 10, where it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Poena’, its parent and the most resembling variety ‘Salmena’ U.S. Plant Patent ‘POENA’ ‘F0132-1’ No. 12,218) Flower color Deep rose Rose Salmon pink Earliness Early Early Late Internode length Short Short Very long Plantsize Compact Compact Big

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical : Verbena×hybrida.         -   Parentage.—Female parent : ‘F0132-1’. Pollen parent :             Unknown.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Plant height.—14-20 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—35-65 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Hanging and vigorous.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—2.5-3 mm.         -   Shape.—Tetragonal.         -   Anthocyan pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color.—146B.         -   Length of internode.—20-40 mm, depending on the light where             the plant is propagated.         -   Pubescence.—Pubescence is present. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Broadly ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper side : Pubescent. Lower side : Pubescent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Simple incised.         -   Leaf base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—25-40 mm.         -   Width.—18-30 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—2-4 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side : 137A. Lower side : 137C.         -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.         -   Length of leaf stem.—5-12 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—30-60 mm, depending on season.         -   Size.—Diameter : 2 mm. Length : 8-12 mm.         -   Shape.—Elongated and ovate.         -   Colour.—137D.         -   Sepals.—Color : 138B. Form : Upright. Number : 5, fused.             Size : 5 mm. Shape : Elongated. -   The flower:     -   -   Facing direction.—Upward.         -   Outward curvature of petal.—Slightly curved.         -   Diameter.—20 mm.         -   Height.—18-20 mm.         -   Borne.—In a cluster.         -   Form.—Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes.         -   Cluster.—Spike.         -   Color.—N66A.         -   Eye.—A very small (1 mm) whitish eye (155C) is present.             Typically three out of the five petals exhibit this whitish             coloration.         -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.         -   Number of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.         -   Shape of the petals.—Each petal is heart shaped at the apex             and grown together at the base.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the petal.—Length : 6-8 mm. Width : 6-8 mm.         -   Spike.—Length : 25-35 mm. Diameter 30-45 mm.         -   Calyx length.—8-10 mm.         -   Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent.         -   Color of the calyx.—137A.         -   Number of flowers per spike.—20-25.         -   Fragrance.—A very light rosy fragrance occurs.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—New florets continue to open in             one spike over a period of 14 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—9 days on the plant and 3 hours             off the plant. -   Reproductive organs     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity : 4. Anther shape : Ovoid.             Anther length : 1 mm. Anther color : 144D. Pollen amount :             Scarce pollen. Pollen color : 145D.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity : 1. Pistil length : 18-22 mm.             Stigma shape : Bi-lobed. Stigma color : 144C. Style length :             14-18 mm. Style color : 144D. Ovary color : 144C. -   Seed development: No seed set has been observed to date. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat     and cold, from 2-36 degrees. No resistance to diseases common in     Verbena has been observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Poena,’ as substantially illustrated and described herein. 